The Customs work in Cochin Port has been in existence for over one and half century. Before 1947, the centre of activity of Customs work was at Fort Cochin formerly known as British Cochin. With the gradual development of Cochin Port, the Willingdon Island, an artificial Island constructed by Lord Willingdon became the hub of activity and the Custom House was shifted from Fort Cochin to Willingdon Island in 1956. The Customs Department was under the administrative control of the Collector of Central Excise, Madras. Department’s own building was constructed during 1956 and since then the Custom House commenced functioning as a full-fledged Custom House under a separate Collector of Customs.

In 1960, the Central Excise formations within the State of Kerala were brought under the jurisdiction of the Collector of Customs and the post was designated as Collector of Customs and Central Excise, Cochin. In 1983, the functional segregation of Customs and Central Excise was effected and separate Collectors were designated for Central Excise and Customs having respective jurisdiction of the entire state. In 1989, the jurisdictional area of the Commissioner of Customs was redefined and limited to cover the Cochin Port, Cochin Airport, Cochin Export Processing Zone and the area falling under the jurisdiction of the Greater Cochin Development Authority and the Commissioner of Central Excise was re-designated as Commissioner of Central Excise and Customs having jurisdiction over the remaining area of the state. The Cochin International Airport at Nedumbassery, which started operation during June 1999 falls within the jurisdiction of Commissioner of Customs, Cochin. More....